In Uncertain Times, Curiosity Is Your Superpower

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TOPIC: In Uncertain Times, Curiosity is Your Superpower

Today’s IT & Cybersecurity landscape is shifting faster than ever—new technologies emerging overnight, competing priorities across the business, security threats evolving by the hour, and teams managing an endless stream of requests. Add in organizational change, hybrid work, and heightened expectations for seamless delivery, and even the most seasoned IT leaders can feel the strain.

Neuroscience gives us a critical insight: when pressure rises, our brains constrict. We default to certainty, assumptions, and quick answers—because they feel efficient. But in IT leadership, that narrowing can cost us innovation, collaboration, system stability, and team wellbeing. Curiosity, on the other hand, expands our perspective, improves decision-making, and helps us lead through ambiguity with more clarity and confidence.

You Will Walk Away With:

· The neuroscience behind why “we’ve always done it this way” thinking feels comforting—and how curiosity interrupts bias in technical decision-making and team interactions.

· A 90-second reset technique that helps you shift from reactive troubleshooting to thoughtful, strategic leadership—especially in high-stress moments like outages, escalations, or stakeholder conflicts.

· Daily micro-rituals to help you stay open-minded, reduce cognitive overload, and prevent burnout—for both you and your teams.

· Insight into how AI is accelerating both innovation and fear-driven judgment—and how to stay grounded, human, and discerning as you navigate new tools, capabilities, and expectations.

What Makes This Session Different:

No tech buzzwords. No slides full of frameworks. No awkward breakout rooms.

Just practical, human-centered conversation about how to stay steady, curious, and connected while leading in an environment where the ground is constantly shifting. We’ll work through real scenarios, use brief interactive moments, and introduce science-backed tools that help you respond—not react—to the demands of modern IT.

This session isn’t about solving every challenge in your ecosystem. It’s about strengthening how you show up as a leader—expanding what’s possible for your team, your stakeholders, and yourself.

Speaker:

DEANNE AUSSEM
FOUNDER & CEO | THRIVEWELL PARTNERS

DeAnne Aussem is an internationally recognized executive and leadership coach, keynote speaker, and culture strategist with more than 4,000 hours of coaching experience and three decades in business and people leadership. As the founder and CEO of ThriveWell Partners, DeAnne collaborates with global organizations to redesign work and life structures for sustainable success, enhancing well-being, purpose, and performance from the inside out. Her expertise encompasses human-centered leadership, workplace culture, emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and team flourishing.

A National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Certified Chief Happiness Officer, credentialed Coach Supervisor, and Mindfulness Instructor, DeAnne blends evidence-based science with soulful storytelling. She has spoken on stages with luminaries such as Brene’ Brown, Simone Biles, and Say Shetty, and has been featured by PwC, Thrive Global, Great Place to Work Summit, Forbes and other media platforms. Known for her authentic presence and heart-led delivery, she creates transformative spaces where leaders and teams rise, and cultures flourish.

Free parking is available in the parking lots around the Veterans Memorial Building and Park. If no spots are available, street parking is free on Coombs Ave and Barman Ave (surrounding the park).

• Locate our reserved room named ROTUNDA
• Check-in and grab your name tag.
• Grab food, learn from experts, and connect with peers.

Terms & Disclaimers:

• Unless the event is canceled, all sales are nonrefundable.
• AITP-LA reserves the right to augment, delete, or alter items of the program in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
• By attending this event, you grant permission to be photographed during the event. These photographs may be used by AITP-LA for future promotion of AITP-LA on its website and/or on printed promotional materials.
• By registering for this event, you agree to share your contact information with event sponsors and exhibitors.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Veterans Memorial Building, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, United States

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